Growing Our Support
Access to doctors in free clinics is critical to patients with limited or no insurance. But physicians don’t have x-ray vision; they often need further diagnostic testing to determine a diagnosis and course of treatment.
Growing the Impact of Our Support: The Health Access Physician Partnership Initiative
To address this need, Chris Hougland and her team launched the Health Access Physician Partnership Initiative (H.A.P.P.I.). “The goal of H.A.P.P.I. is to put diagnostic system in place to serve the low income population of Osceola County,” Hougland says. “When patients see a doctor in a free clinic they might need a test that could cost hundreds of dollars. That’s just not feasible for some patients.”
In its first year, H.A.P.P.I. was responsible for securing free diagnostic testing for 415 people.
H.A.P.P.I. recruited local diagnostic companies and negotiated rock-bottom rates and free services for the patients in the program. Funded by a $50,000 grant from AdventHealth, the initiative launched in October 2011 and in its first year was responsible for securing free diagnostic testing for 415 people. “We far exceeded our goal and helped far more people than we though we could,” says Hougland.
For many, the program continued to aid patients as they traveled through the healthcare continuum for further testing and treatment. “This program has enhanced our clinic beyond belief. Our doctors are so grateful that they finally have the tools to do what they need to do.”
For additional information about the Health Access Physician Partnership Initiative call
Call407-846-0413.
